Instrument panel



May 14, 1929.

D. E.,\KEENEY INSTRUMENT PANEL Filed July 15, 1927 ed May l i, 192i urn rarer OFFICE.

Application filed July 15, 1927.

This invention relates to an instrument l elf the type ordinarily mounted on the board of an automotive vehicle. an object of this invention to provide 'unient panel which is siniiple in construction and hence economical to manufacture and which provides a lirni support tor any of the instruments usually carried on the dashboard. litis a further object of the invention to provide an instrrnnent panel in which the front cover plate may be readily removed, thus providing easy access to any ol the variiirus instriutnents.

tlther objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description, tul'ien. in connection with the accompanying drawing and appended cluirns.

lin the drawing:

Figure l is a trout vi w of my improved instrun'lent panel, with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of the dashbourd 16. Willie bezel 1.2 is provided on tlll't s with cbunnel 18 and on the tlourth side, the upper in the present case, the channel is cut all the way through the bezel to term a slot permitting it cover plate or front element to be inserted by sliding the some in a plane parallel with the body of panel 10. At 22 l have illustrated the cover 1 late or front element which may he slid in through the slot to lit in the channels 18.

:lt 2d 1 have indicated an aperture in the punel adopted to fit the instrument bezel on the front or the instrument case 26. The case 26 preferably rests against the plate 22 and may be held in lined position. by a clamp 28 shown. as fastened by screws 30 to the rear side of the panel. An aperture or apertures 32, opposite one or more of the apertures 24- and corresponding to the position of any espond ngly shaped aperture in Serial No. 5305,9'26.

instrument or instruments 26, may be provlded 1n the plate 22, a reduced portionor portions or: said instrument or instruments V being preferably permitted to extend through said plate, substantially as for an interlocking ellect holds suid. plate ugainst re lnent.

While l have illustrated in detail the mounting of but a single instrument, I de sire it to be understood that any usual number of instruments may be supported in like manner by providing apertures in the panel corresponding to the size and shape ot' the instrument to be supported. The panel nuiy be fixed to the dashboard in any usual or desired manner.

l claim:

1. In an instrument panel, a dished supporting; element provided with e rim having a slot theretln'ough, a cover element elidable through said slot and subtsuntially parallel with the body of said supporting element, one oil? said eleniients being provided with an aperture und ineuns lior holding an instrument supported in said aperture.

52, n an instrument panel, a dished supper i element comprising a bezel having a slot cut therethrough, a cover plate slidublc within said slot there being; an aperture in said supporting element, and means for holdingan instrument supported in said aperture against said cover plate.

3. In an instrument panel, a dished supporting; elementprovided with a slot, it cover plate slidiil'ile therethrmlghin a plane parallel with the body of said element, there being); an aperture in said cover plate opposite an aperture in said supporting element, an instrument fitting within the a1 )erture in the supporting); element, and means on said supporting: element for holding said instriunel'it against said cover plate.

4t. lln cmnbination with a dashboard having); an aperture therein, a dished supporting element provided with a flange fitting against said dashboard, a slot in said supporting element adjacent said flange, a cover plate slidshown in Fig. 52, which normally atrvc sliding nioveable in said slot and registering with the edge of the dashboard when the supporting element is in posit-ion thereon, and an inst'rument carried by said supporting element.

5. In an instrument panel organization: a dished element provided with a bezel; a cover element initially slidable relatively thereto;

an instrument adapted to extend through one of said elements; and means rendering a positioning of said instrument ell'eetive to interlock said elements against relative sliding movement in substantially parallel planes.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

DON E. KEENEY. 

